Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-01-14
TIPS IN THE PALMER HOUSE.
Potter Palmer Forced to Go Back
10 the Old System.
From tie Chicago MdH.

From the Chicago M1H.
Beginning on Jan. l, Potter Palmer took
three Of his employees INTO partnership
with him. and the hotel is now conducted
by the Palmer House Company. The
gentlemen thus rewarded are Copeland
Townsend, who has been connected with
the house nine years; Frank A. Br0bst,
who entered Mr.. Palmer'S employ seven
years ago, aud Paul Z. Lowe, whose con-
nection dates from 1884.
Several years ago Potter Palmer began
a crusade against the "Uip' system. He
was actuated by an earnest desire 10
abolish it, and, calling John H. Monroe,
his head porter, into the office, be said {:
"JOhn, you nave been with me for years.
You are honest and industrious. | have
gwen you an opportunity 10 make
money, and hope you have saved it.
propose to do all l possibly can to abolish
the evil of tipping in hotels. If other
hotel men will cooperate we can succeed d.
Hereafter | will pay every man salary
and abolish tips in the Palmer House.
will pay you $l25 month"
"Mr. Palmer" replied John, 81 cannot
stay for less than $3.50 month"
This sum Mr.. Palmer would not pay,
and John lett. For five years the Palmer
has been an anti-tir hotel, and thousands
of travellers will be surprised TO know
that the old policy of perquisites / %
been declared. Moreover, the heaJ ..
ter, Monroe, has been reIustated.
Monroe is "a man OF much Indivit uonly.
Seven years ago he signed the temper
ance pledge and entered upon a career Of
temperance reform which has not only
benefited himself, but has materially
aided hundreds Of others. For the past
10 Ia
from his current earnings to advance the
cause Of temperance.
"JohE," said reporter for the Mail to
him to day, "Mr. BrObst just told me at
the office that the profits of the Palmer
House during 1886 from the boot stand
were $4,000.
That doesn't surprise me. 1t is re-
markable how, the receipts have dwindied
down since left here"
"But isn't tfat q pretty good showing""
"When | was here before we would take
in from $50 to $40 a day; now some days
they run down as low as $12. 1t will take
some time to bring up the receipts to the
old isure]h af
''Do you hire all the porters now?n
"Yes; | came back on the old terms. ]
take the responsibility OF the boot stand
and portsrs and receive the perquIsites
for my com pensation-nmus, OF course,
what | pay tDr my help. | now hire
seventeen men. paving them from $25 to
$50 month, and the hotel boards them.
they are all temperance boys, too. BY
another month the business Will require
forty menin every department"
What do you pay the Palmer House
for this privilege?.'
"NOt one cent"
"Then if the house made SC. 200
profit from the boot stand last year they
will make nothing this year"
"That's it,"
why does the house return to the tip
system at the sacrifice OF handsome
revenue~ ''Beceuse the other system
was making thieves OF employees. Yes,
sir, 1t was inviting and encouraging the
rankest dishonesty. Men who were am
ply paid would take money rom guests,
and then add lying to theft. l think
with Mr.. Palmer. that tipping is an evil D.,
but there are woTss ones, and the policy
just abandoned was much more democrat
izing to hotel help. Mr.. Palmer fought
against the feeling of hotel help unaided
and alone. He has abandoned It at a
financial sacrifice, for no other reason
than to secure honesty among emrloyes.
Iha's the kind of man he is.U
"What were you making before YOU lett
the Palmer House five years ago?"
"Weli, say $500 month; perhaps
MORE"
"With thirty or forty men under you,
and ali on salary, doesn't good portion
of the tips get away from your"
John rubbed his Scotch head and said
he thought he was equal to the task OF
getting all that belonged TO him. NV
8. stem is to offer premium on honesty.
The man who turns in the most money to
me Ia the course OF month receives $40;
The next man $40, next So. Add to this b
graded system of promotion and a GER
taInty that every honest. sober man is
sure OF permanent position, and YOU see
there is every inducement to int grity. In
addition, however, | keep watch on the
men in several ways. One is to take a
dollar, more or less, to guest whom |
know, and request him to hand it to a
certain porter or bootblack. The honest
man gives this money to me; the dlshon-
est man don't, but he leaves my employ
Immediately. If l wanted 10 preach a
temperance sermon | could show you how
dishonesty and drunkenness generally 20
hand in hand. As a rnle, my true TEN.
perance boys are the honest ones"
"Having abolished tips, now Is IL that
the receipts OF the boot stand have
dwindledY
"Fof this reason: Guests have argued.
i Won BeS my DouIS DldCkeu inside, as
it all goes to the Palmer House; ri 90
out and patrOnize some fellow who needs
the money The average travelling man
is a generous soul. Thousands have their
expenses paid, and are liberal. but very
level-headed in their liberality."
Tine total receipts in Palmer House
''tips" during 1887 will not be less than
$4,000.
"Buchn- Paiba."
Quick. complete cure, all annoying Kid.